Septic tank forms



T. C. GREENE SEPTIC TANK FORMS Jan. 5, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 27, 1963 INVENTOR TUDOR C. GREENE ATTORNEYS,

Jan. 5, 1965 T. c. GHREENE SEPTIC TANK FORMS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 2'7, 1963 FIG.2.

INVENTOR.

TUDOR C. GREENE ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,163,910 SEPTIC TANK FORMS Tudor C. Greene, Rte. 2, Box 278, Redford, Va.

Filed Nov. 27, 1963, Ser. No. 326,517

4 Claims. (Cl. 25-130) My invention relates to an apparatus for casting. Particularly my invention relates to an apparatus for casting septic tanks and similar hollow, box-like articles of concrete material wherein a rigid, substantially one piece outer mold and a rigid, substantially one piece inner mold are employed, the outermold being stripped from the cast article following which the cast article and inner mold are raised, the inner mold then being separated from the cast article and allowed to freely fall and return to its original seated position.

It is the primary object of this invention to effect the separation of the cast article andthe molds therefore without collapsing the mold and without the use of complicated and expensive mechanical linkages and complicated prying means.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a strong and durable casting apparatus utilizing a minimum number of parts.

Another object of this invention is to provide unique and readily detachable core means for forming weakened areas in the septic tank and readily detachable closure forming pans which simultaneously form openings in the tank and closures therefore. The core means and closure forming means may be used as desired.

The spectic tank of the instant invention comprises a bottom section and a top section. The casting apparatus forms one section at each casting so that the bottom section of the tank may be formed without openings therein while the top section may be provided with openings by using the same apparatus used in casting the bottom section with the addition of the core members and closure forming members.

The inner and outer molds are fabricated of sheet material suitably braced to withstand normal casting forces. The inner mold isprovided with a foundation meanswhich extends below the sheet material and provides a floor engaging support. This foundation means also provides anvils, said anvils providing surfaces to support prying means for separating the outer mold from the septic tank section and for receiving impacts to free the inner mold from the septic tank section. in this way the difficult operation of mold separations can be accomplished without injury to the relatively large sheet metal molds and without the use of complicated mechanical devices required for collapsing the molds, the instant invention relying for its molding capabilities and means for separation on the combination of the outer and inner molds with the foundation means.

The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by references to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view with the elements separated for clarity;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken on line 22"of FIGURE 1 and showing theapparatus in assembled condition with a septic tank section cast therein; 7

FIGURE 3 is a view taken on line 3-3 of FIGURE 1, with the core member and the pan removed and showing the prying means in place;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a septic tank section and inner mold in elevated condition;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the completed septic tank.

Refering now to FIGURE 1, it will be seen that the 2,153,910 Patented Jan. 5, 1965 casting apparatus includes an outer mold 10 and an inner mold 11 the outer mold having an open top and bottom, four side walls 12, 13, 14 and 15 rigidly or integrally. attached to each other to form a tapered rectangular member with brace means 16 and 17 attached to the outer surface thereof for rigidity. A top flange 18 and lifting eyes 19 are provided and a bottom flange 29 of predetermined width extends horizontally outwardly from the bottom edge and around the entire periphery of the outer mold and is inter-connected by the brace means to the side walls 12-15 and the top flange 18.

The inner mold 11 is in the form of an inverted tapered wall box-like member having a top panel 21 and two side panels 8, and two end panels 9 depending therefrom, with each of said panels being integrally attached to each other. A base flange 22 extends outwardly from the bottom edges of the side panels 8 and end panels 9 and extends around the entire periphery of said inner mold for receiving the bottom flange 2i) of the outer mold 10 and supporting said outer mold. Aligning means indicated by the numerals 23 and 24 are mounted on offset portions 40 and 41 respectively of the base flange 22 for matingly engaging the bottom flange 20 of the outer mold and for aligning the outer mold relative to the inner mold to form the desired mold cavity. The aligning means 23 are in the form of right angle brackets mounted on offset portions 40 of the base flange at each corner thereof and the aligning means 24 are in the form of a bar mounted on offset section 41 of the base flange 22 at the middle of the longitudinal edges thereof.

As mentioned, the sheet metal molds are of relatively large size and considerable force must be used to separate the cast septic tank section from the mold. A foundation means 43 is attachedto the inner mold 11 to accomplish I this desired end without damage to the molds.

As seen in FIGURES 1 and 3, the foundation means 43 includes transverse U-shaped channel bars 25 positioned on one of their side legs and extending under the inner mold and welded at the pointsof contact to the under-surface of the base flange 22 at each side, the channel bars being located inwardly from the ends of the inner mold 11 about A the longitudinal length of the inner mold where'- by they are each positioned substantially in vertical alignment with a vertical brace 16 of the outer mold10, the significance of which will be set forth below. Triangular reinforcing parts 26 are welded to the bight of the channel bars 25 and to the outer edge of the under-surface of the base flange 22. 1

It will be noted that when the molds are assembled as in FIGURE 3, the bottom flange 20 extends horizontally outwardly beyond those portions of the base flange which are between the offset portions 40 and 41 thereby form ing a space between the bottom flange 20 and the channel bars 25, the size of said space being the thickness of the base flange 22. i

The foundation means 43 provides anvils indicated by numeral-s 27 which are portions of the channel bars ex tending outwardly from beneath the base flange 20. There are four anvils, two on each side with the side not shown in FIGURE 1 being identical to the shown side. The anvils 27 are used as supporting surfaces for prying means 39 used to release the outer mold from the cast septic tank section as indicated in FIGURES. Note that the prying means is inserted in the space between the bottom flange 26 of the outer mold and the anvil portion 27 of the channel bar and beneath the vertical brace 16 which absorbs the force of the prying action without deformation of the bottom flange or side walls of the outer mold Ill.

After removal of the outer mold, a lifting means 28 schematically shown in FIGURE 4 is attached to the septic tank section 29, and the section and inner mold are raised a distance of about 2-3 inches. of the four anvils 27 in the manner shown in FIGURE 4 is suflicient to free the inner mold from septic tank section and allow it to fall and seat on its foundation means 43. The sturdy construction of the mold and foundation means permits the described method of separation without damage to the mold.

The above described inner and outer mold will produce one sect-ion of the septic tan;l ,;it being'noted in FIGURES 2 and 3 that the side walls 12, 13, 14 and 15 of the outer mold extend upwardly beyond the top panel 21 of the inher mold a distance suflicient to form the horizontal slab portion of the septic tank section.

One section of the septic tank, the top section, as seen in FIGURE 5, preferably has access holes 30 with closures 31 and weakened areas 32 for knock-out as desired. As seen in FIGURES 1 land 2, the weakened areas are pro- An impact at each vided by void-forming core members 33 of predetermined shape, these members being removably attached to the inner surface of the outer mold side walls by attaching means 44 which in the form shown includes a bolt 34 and a nut 35. It will be noted that the cups or core members are drawn up against the inner surface of the side wall by bolts 34 which extend through holes 42 in the side Walls 12-15 and engage nut 35 in the base of the cups. The core members extend from said wall into the mold cavity to an intermediate point therein but not all the way across to the side or end panels of the inner mold thereby forming weakened areas 32. It is noted that the bolts 34 are withdrawn prior to stripping the outer mold from the cast septic tank section.

When no weakened areas are desired, the cores may be removed and the end portions of the bolt 34 may be withdrawn to the surface of the side walls 1-2-15 as in FIGURE 3 to provide a smooth surface and seal for the hole 42 in the side walls.

A pan 36 having downwardly, inwardly flared side sections 37 and a bottom 45,-is seated on the top panel 21 of the inner .mold in a predetermined position to form-an access opening 30 and simultaneously to form aclosure 31 therefor. The side sections 37 as seen in FIGURE 2 are higher than the side walls 12-15 of the outer mold when the pans are seated to compensate for metal thickness and provide a smooth closure at theouter surface of the septic tank. If desired, handles 38 may be inserted during the casting operation.

It be understood that the pans are atleast partially filled with concrete prior to filling the mold cavity to maintain a predetermined seated position of the pans.

After casting the two sections of the septic tank, the sections are assembled as shown in FIGURE 5. Each section comprises a half of the completed septic tank and each section weighs about one ton. The joint between the two sections may be effectively sealed with mortar.

It will be known that the invention is not to be limited to the construction shown and described but that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A casting apparatus for casting an inverted box-like article comprising an outer mold, and aninner mold, said outer mold being adapted to fit over said inner mold to define a mold cavity, said outer mold having an open top and an open bottom and comprising four side walls rigidly attached to one another to form a rectangular memher, at least one side wall having a hole therein, brace means attached to the outer surfaces of said side Walls, a bottom flange attached to and extending outwardly from the bottom edges of said side walls, a top flange attached to the top edges of said side Walls, a void form- 4 ing core member of predetermined shape, attaching means, one end portion of which'extends through said hole and removably attaches said core member to the inner surface of a side wall for projection into said mold cavity, said one end portion of said attaching means being adapted to be Withdrawn from said mold cavity to seal said hole in said wall, said outer mold having means to enable lifting thereof, said inner mold comprising a top panel, two side panels and two end panels, the top side and end panels being rigidly attached to each other to form an inverted box-like member, said outer mold side walls being higher than said top panel to enable casting of a horizontal slab portion for said cast article, said outer mold side walls and said inner mold side panels and end panels being downwardly and outwardly tapered, a base flange extending outwardly from and attached to the bottom of said side panels and said end panels for receiving and supporting said bottomflange ,of said outer mold, offset corner portions on said base flange, aligning means on said offset, portions for matingly engaging said bottom flange and aligning the outer mold relative to said inner mold to form said mold cavity, said bottom flange extending horizontally outwardly beyond portions of the base flange between said oflset portions thereof, foundation means attached to and extending below said base flange, said foundation means having anvils spaced beneath said bottom flange by the thickness of said base flange, said anvils and the bottom flange thereabove providing prying surfaces for freeing said outer mold from the cast article and the inner mold, said anvils being predeterminely spaced to receive impacts to accomplish separation of the inner mold from the cast article when the cast article and inner mold are lifted, the inner mold then being free to fall and seat on its foundation.

2. A casting apparatus as defined in claim 1 and ineluding a pan for simultaneously forming an opening in the horizontal 'slab and a closure therefore, said pan being removably seated on said top panel and having downward-1y, inwardly flared side sections, said side sections extending above said outer mold side walls when said pan is'in seated position.

3. A casting apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the aligning means comprises right-angle brackets and straight bar sections attached to said offset portions of said base flange to enable mating engagement of said bottom flange and said base flange.

4. A casting apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said core'member is removably attached to the inner surface of a side wall and extends from said wall into said mold cavity to an intermediate point therein, enabling the forming of weakened, knock-out areas in said cast article.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 28,184 5/60 Knight 25-126 969,299 9/10 Rathbun 25-130 2,001,795 5/35 Palmer 25-130 2,228,123 1/41 McMurray 25-130 2,485,850 10/49 Sitton 25-130 2,683,298 7/54 Fadden 25-130 3,106,007 10/63 Stovall 25-130 FOREIGN PATENTS 351,15 8 22 Germany. 593,753 3/ 60 Canada.

OTHER REFERENCES Modern Concrete page 20; November 1962 v. 26, No.27.

MICHAEL V. BRINDISI, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT F. WHITE, Examiner. 

1. A CASTING APPARATUS FOR CASTING AN INVERTED BOX-LIKE ARTICLE COMPRISING AN OUTER MOLD, AND AN INNER MOLD, SAID OUTER MOLD BEING ADAPTED TO FIT OVER SAID INNER MOLD TO DEFINE A MOLD CAVITY, SAID OUTER MOLD HAVING AN OPEN TOP AND AN OPEN BOTTOM AND COMPRISING FOUR SIDE WALLS RIGIDLY ATTACHED TO ONE ANOTHER TO FORM A RECTANGULAR MEMBER, AT LEAST ONE SIDE WALL HAVING A HOLE THEREIN, BRACE MEANS ATTACHED TO THE OUTER SURFACES OF SAID SIDE WALLS, A BOTTOM FLANGE ATTACHED TO AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM THE BOTTOM EDGES OF SAID SIDE WALLS, A TOP FLANGE ATTACHED TO THE TOP EDGES OF SAID SIDE WALLS, A VOID FORMING CORE MEMBER OF PREDETERMINED SHAPE, ATTACHING MEANS, ONE END PORTION OF WHICH EXTENDS THROUGH SAID HOLE AND REMOVABLY ATTACHES SAID CORE MEMBER TO THE INNER SURFACE OF A SIDE WALL FOR PROJECTION INTO SAID MOLD CAVITY, SAID ONE END PORTION OF SAID ATTACHING MEAN BEING ADAPTED TO BE WITHDRAWN FROM SAID MOLD CAVITY TO SEAL SAID HOLE IN SAID WALL, SAID OUTER MOLD HAVING MEANS TO ENABLE LIFTING THEREOF, SAID INNER MOLD COMPRISING A TOP PANEL, TWO SIDE PANELS AND TWO END PANELS, THE TOP SIDE AND END PANELS BEING RIGIDLY ATTACHED TO EACH OTHER TO FORM AN INVERTED BOX-LIKE MEMBER, SAID OUTER MOLD SIDE WALLS BEING HIGHER THAN SAID TOP PANEL TO ENABLE CASTING OF A HORIZONTAL SLAB PORTION FOR SAID CAST ARTICLE, SAID OUTER MOLD SIDE WALLS AND SAID INNER MOLD SIDE PANELS AND END PANELS BEING DOWNWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY TAPERED, A BASE FLANGE EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM AND ATTACHED TO THE BOTTOM OF SAID SIDE PANELS AND SAID END PANELS FOR RECEIVING AND 